Hand portable electric current tap device



Oct. 8, 1968 T. 1.. JARBOE HAND PORTABLE ELECTRIC CURRENT TAP DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1966 INVENTOR. fidaarei. dkrae XML m rray/11.5).

United States Patent 3,405,383 HAND PORTABLE ELECTRIC CURRENT TAP DEVICE Theodore L. Jarboe, 407 Tulip Ave., Takoma Park, Md. 20012 Filed Nov. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 596,630 9 Claims. (Cl. 339-7) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable extension device formed by an elongated tube having a gripping means at one end for removing an elevated bulb, and adapted at the other end to be connected to the light socket for supplying power to the bulb at the one end. Plural outlets on the tube permit energizing firemens apparatus for example. In one embodiment, the tube has a joint permitting pivoting of a section thereof. The device may also be connected to a wall receptacle.

This invention relates to a hand portable device for tapping and diverting electric current from a fixed outlet source thereof to one or more conductors. The invention is more particularly concerned with a device for diverting current from a fixed outlet source which is the sole available source of current in a confined space or area or which is located in a relatively inaccessible posltion therein.

There are many instances in which aforementioned condition prevails. In most such instances, the current outlet source is in the form of a socket accommodating an electric light bulb for illuminating the otherwise unilluminated space. Needless to say, it is difficult or timeconsuming to make or substitute connections to the fixed outlet source so as to provide current for operating required electrical appliances or devices in such spaces or areas.

There is, therefore, a need for a practical form of hand portable implement which will enable the electric current from the fixed source to be tapped and diverted so as to serve one or more electrical appliances or devices, particu larly when this becomes necessary for relatively short periods of time, as in the case of emergencies.

One particular field in which there is urgent need for such a hand portable implement is in fire-fighting and rescue work. Numerous instances have occurred where a fire has broken out in or has extended into attics, storage rooms, or other such confined and seldom used spaces, in which there exists only a single outlet source for electric current. In most instances, this outlet source is located in the ceiling of the attic or other such space, or at an elevation therein which is not Within reach of the hand. Thus, if in the course of fire-fighting it becomes necessary to utilize electrical appliances, such as motorized smokeblowers or other electrically-operated devices, the current must be drawn from one or another current outlet located remotely from the locus of the fire, and often even at a lower story of the building structure.

If the current for operating such appliances or devices is drawn from the single current outlet located in an attic or similarly enclosed room or space, by substituting for the electric light bulb engaging the outlet source, the plug at the end of an electric cord leading to the appliance or device, there is entailed either working without benefit of illumination or providing the necessary illumination from an entirely separate source, such as a battery-powered flash-light.

Moreover, access, as by means of a ladder, to a current outlet located in the ceiling or at some other out-of-reach location in an attic or similar enclosed space is not only 3,405,383 Patented Oct. 8, 1968 time consuming, which is frequently critical in fighting a fire, but in many instances is not feasible because of the limited space available for setting a ladder in place for quickly reaching the current outlet.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a hand-portable device for tapping and diverting electric current from a fixed source into one or more conductors for quick connection with motorized appliances or other electrically operated devices.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a hand-portable device of the aforementioned character, which will make possible the rapid connection of such appliances or devices with a source of current located in a confined space at a point therein which is not readily reachable by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character aforesaid, which will embody means for enabling a conventional electric light bulb to be quickly removed from a socket located in the ceiling or at another out-of-reach location of an enclosed space and which will embody means for enabling the current from the source at such socket to be tapped and diverted to one or more conductors, one of which may serve a socket for receiving an electric light bulb to illuminate the working space, and the other or others of which are connected to suitable outlets for receiving a plug of an electric cord connected to an appliance such as a motorized smoke-blower or the like, in fire-fighting or similar operations in such confined spaces.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, as Well as the advantages thereof, will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, illustrating an embodiment of the invention in one position of use thereof;

FIG. 2 is a similar view, illustrating the device in its other position of use;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but on a larger scale and showing certain of the parts in cross-section and certain parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken at one of the ends of the device; and

FIG. 5 is a view on a reduced scale, partly in side elevation and partly in cross-section, showing a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 14 of the drawing, there is illustrated a hand portable implement, indicated generally by the numeral 10, embodying the invention. v

As there shown, the implement comprises a relatively elongated rigid channel member 11, preferably of circular cross-section, and desirably fashioned from filled polyvinyl chloride, other synthetic plastic material such as nylon, or polytetrafluoroethylene (a) commercial form of which is marketed under the name Teflon or other suitable dielectric material.

The tube or channel 11 may be of any desirable length, suitably about three to four feet, and may have an inside diameter of the order of three-eighths to one-half of an inch, and an outside diameter of the order of five-eighths to seven-eights of an inch.

Extending longitudinally through the tube or channel member are a pair of conductors A, B, of insulated wire. Adjacent one end of the tube, the ends of these conductors are connected to terminal contact members 12, 13, having prongs 14, 15, respectively, extending outwardly beyond the corresponding end of tube 11. Desirably, the contact members 12, 13 may be seated in a base 16 of insulating material. The prongs 14, 15 may thus serve as plugs and be readily removably engaged with the receiving slots of the base 17 of a contact member 18 externally threaded as indicated at 19 for engagement with an internally threaded socket contact connected with a source of current. In lieu of the aforesaid prong arrangement, as terminals for the conductors A, B at this end of the tube, there may be utilized a male twist lock type of terminal such as will be described with reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5.

At the opposite end of the tube 11, the conductors A, B are connected to contact members 20, 21, respectively, insulated from the tube 11. Desirably, a coil spring 22 is disposed within the cylindrical member 21 for normally urging the contact member outwardly.

Mounted at the last-named end of the tube or channel 11, is a gripping member indicated generally by numeral 30, extending outwardly beyond the end of the tube and configured and dimensioned for resiliently gripping a conventional electric light bulb. As illustrated in the drawing, the gripping member may comprise a plurality of spaced, relatively elongated spring members 32 having their inner ends 34 disposed interiorly of this end of the tube, and rigidly held in place against the inner surface of the tube, as by an annular ring formed of rubber or the like, sealed thereto.

Adjacent their outer free ends, the spring members 32 are each bowed arcuately in a direction radially outward with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube or channel 11 so as to have a contour enabling them to surround and engage the surface of the enlarged bulbous portion of conventional electric light bulbs. In order to retain the outer ends of the spring members 32 in a substantially circular path concentric with the tubular channel member 11, and to enable the spring members to grip and frictionally engage the enlarged end portion of an electrio light bulb, the free ends of the members 32 may be formed with outwardly bent hook portions 35 to receive and hold a resilient ring 36 of coiled wire or the like for constraining the spring members 32 in a direction radially inward of the axis of the tube or channel 11.

Intermediate the ends of the tube 11, and .at a location relatively close to the end of the tube at which the gripping member 30 is mounted, there are formed several openings 40, 41, preferably longitudinally offset one with respect to the other. Connected to the conductor A are branch wire conductors 44a, 45a, and connected to conductor B are similar branch wire conductors 44b, 45b. Branch conductors 44a, 44b extend through opening and have their outer ends connected to a terminal member 46, and branch conductors a, 45b similarly extend through opening 41 and have their ends connected to a terminal outlet 47. The terminals 46, 47 are preferably the female component of the wellknown twist-lock type of electrical outlet, for quick detachable connection of the prongs of a male component of such outlets, customarily attached to the end of the cable leading to electrical devices or appliances used in fire-fighting operations. Desirably, the terminals 46, 47 are fitted to the exterior surface of the tube in a position such that their channels 50, 51 (for engagement by the prongs of a male component) extend at an angle of the order of 45 to the longitudinal axis of the tube and in a direction toward gripping member 30.

As will now be evident, the device hereinabove described constitutes a highly useful and convenient handportable implement for tapping and diverting electric current from a single source thereof, located out of normal reach in a confined space, such as in the ceiling of an attic, and is especially useful for that purpose in operations such as fire-fighting or rescue work. Thus, in actual use for such operations, and assuming that the source of current to be utilized is the contact member of a screw-threaded socket fixed to the ceiling (as is most often the case) of the attic or other enclosed space, and that the socket holds an electric light bulb 80, the fireman or other worker may rapidly first remove the bulb from the socket 60 by manually engaging the gripping member 30 with the bulb until the spring members 32 grip firmly around th'e enlarged outer portion of the bulb, and then rotating the tube around its longitudinal axis until the bulb has been unscrewed from the socket 70. Thereupon, after reversing the tube end-forend, the exteriorly threaded contact member 19 engaging the terminal prongs 14, 15 may be screwed into the socket 60 by rotating the tube 11 around its longitudinal axis until contact is established with the current source. The

same or a similar bulb may be utilized for illuminating.

the working space by engaging its contact end with the contact 20; Current for operating any necessary accessories, such as motor-driven smoke-blowers or the like, may be obtained from the current source in socket 60 by engaging thernale component of the twist-lock connection 52, 53, respectively, at the free ends of cable 54, 55 attached to accessories represented at 56, 57 in the drawing, with either of the outlets 46, 47, or with both thereof, if necessary to operate more than one such accessory.

In FIG. 5 of the drawing, there is shown a modified embodiment of the invention, constructed so as to be useable for tapping and diverting electric current from a single source fixed within a confined or enclosed space and located either in the ceiling (or other horizontal surface thereof) or in a wall (or other vertical surface thereof) at a height which is out of the normal reach by hand.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the tubular member of the implement is composed of two sections or parts 81, 82 joined to one another by a universal joint or hinge 83 of any standard type. The section 81, 82 may desirably be of approximately equal length, so that the joint connection 83 will be disposed approximately midway of the over-all length of the tube. The gripping member 30' is mounted at the outer free end of section 81, and the terminals 46', 47, disposed along the length of section 81 relatively close to the gripper end thereof are each connected, as in the embodiment first described, by branch wires connected to conductors A, B.

The ends of the conductors A, B extending through section 82 are connected to male terminal components 85 of a twist-lock type connection, for receiving a fema'e component 86 thereof, having a screw-threaded contact portion 87 at its outer end.

Encircling the tube in this embodiment of the invention is a friction collar 90 slidable along the length of the tube so that when the collar is positioned to overlie and surround the joint connection 83 between the two parts or sections 81, 82, the latter will be retained in firm axial alignment with one another. In that position of the parts, the implement may be utilized in the same manner as described above with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, when current is to be tapped and diverted from a fixed source, such as the contact provided by a socket 60 located in the ceiling 70 and holding an electric bulb 80. As there described, the bulb is first removed by engaging the bulb with gripping member 30' and rotating implement around its longitudinal axis (collar 90 being first positioned to overlie the joint 83). Thereupon contact is made with the source of current by reversing the implement end-for-end and screwing the threaded contact member 87 into the socket 60.

In the event, however, the source of current is located on a wall or other vertical surface of the attic or similar confined space, an electrical light bulb positioned in the socket connected to the current source may be removed therefrom by slidably positioning collar 90 so that it does not overlie the joint 83, thus permitting section 81 of the tube to be positioned so that its axis extends radially at a desired angle, say 90, with respect to the longitudinal axis of section 82 of the tube. Thereupon, the gripping member 30 may be engaged over the bulb in a wall socket, and by rotative manipulation of section 82, the bulb may be removed from the socket, whereupon, by reversing the device end-for-end, the threaded contact member 87 may be screwed into the socket to make contact with the current source and to supply current through conductors A, B' to the terminals 46', 47' for connection, as already described, with the desired appiance or appliances. At the same time, the working space may be illuminated, if necessary, by inserting an electric light bulb into the interior of the gripping member 30 so that its contact is in electrical connection with spring-pressed contact member Although the invention, in each of the embodiments thereof hereinabove described, is constructed particularly for use in tapping and diverting electric current from a fixed source located in the ceiling or along a wall of the working space, such as an attic or the like, it may likewise be utilized for that purpose in any such space which is devoid of any current source. In such cases, the current from an external source, such as from a generator (not shown) of the type which is a normal piece of equipment brought by firemen to the site of a fire, may be suitably connected by cable to the terminals 14, 15, for supplying current to terminal outlets 46, 47 through conductors A, B and branch conductors 44a, 44b and 45a, 45b, respectively, as well as for supplying current to the contact 20 serving an electric bulb for illuminating the working area.

What is claimed is:

1. A hand portable tap device for diverting electric current from an out-of-reach fixed source to two or more selective conductors comprising:

(a) a relatively elongated channel member;

(b) a pair of conductors extending through said channel member, each of said conductors having one end thereof connected to a terminal each disposed at one end of said channel member, and comprising a prong member extending beyond said end of the channel member;

(0) a contact member disposed at the opposite end of said channel member, and having the opposite ends of said conductors connected thereto;

(d) a gripping member mounted on said channel member at said opposite end thereof, said gripping member being shaped and dimensioned for resiliently gripping a conventional electric light bulb removably engaged with an outlet connected to the fixed source of current, whereby to remove said bulb from said outlet by manual rotation of said channel member around itslongitudinal axis; and

(e) conductors disposed in the interior of said channel member, each of said last-named conductors being connected at one of its ends to one of said firstnamed conductors and being connected at its opposite ends to a terminal outlet member mounted on the exterior of said channel member intermediate the ends of the latter.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said terminal outlet member is mounted along the length of said channel member at a distance closer to the end of said channel member at which said gripping member is mounted than to the opposite end thereof.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said gripping member comprises a plurality of spaced, relatively elongated spring members each having one of its ends free and its opposite end fixed to said opposite end of the channel member, said spring members being disposed in a substantially circular path, the portion of each of said spring members intermediate said free end and said opposite end thereof being arcuately bowed in a direction radially outward with respect to the longitudinal axis of said channel member.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said channel member is formed as a two-part member, said two parts thereof being connected to one another by a universal joint.

5. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said channel member is formed as a two-part member, said two parts thereof being connected to one another by a universal joint.

6. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said free ends of said spring members are formed with book portions, and wherein a resilient member of circular outline is frictionally engaged in said hook portions.

7. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said channel member is of tubular form and wherein said circular path is substantially concentric with the channel member.

8. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said terminal outlet member is disposed in the one of said two parts of said channel member on which said gripping member is mounted.

9. A device as defined in claim 4, having a friction collar slidable along the exterior surface of said channel member and adapted to retain the two parts of the channel member in axial alignment with one another when said collar is positioned along the length of said channel member to overlie said universal joint.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,594,489 8/1926 Benjamin 339- X 2,263,317 11/1941 Schwartz 339-167 X 2,273,167 2/1942 Anderson 339l35 X 2,305,101 12/1942 OBrien 3396 3,159,443 12/1964 Hart 339 X RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner. 

